By Zach Schauls

The goal is clear: to equip automotive recyclers with the knowledge and skills necessary to process high-voltage vehicles safely and efficiently, while also preparing them for future developments that will continue to reshape the industry. 

By embracing these opportunities, the auto recycling industry can play a key role in the circular economy.

“I don’t recycle electric vehicles.”  

It’s a phrase still heard across the industry, but it no longer reflects reality. The truth is that many recyclers are already handling high-voltage vehicles, whether they realize it or not. A 10-year-old hybrid SUV may look no different from a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle on the outside, yet under the hood, or more often, beneath the floor, there may be a high-voltage system capable of causing serious harm if not properly identified and managed. The misconception that high-voltage vehicles are rare, obvious, or easy to avoid is precisely why updated training has become so critical. 

The rapid evolution of the automotive industry over the past two decades has fundamentally reshaped not only how vehicles are designed and manufactured, but also how they must be handled at the end of their life cycle. Nowhere is this transformation more evident than in the rise of high-voltage vehicles (HVVs), including hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and fully electric vehicles (EVs). As these technologies have advanced, so too have the complexities and risks associated with dismantling and recycling them. 

In response, the Automotive Recyclers Training Institute (ARTI) has undertaken an ongoing project to revise high-voltage vehicle training—an effort that represents a critical step toward ensuring the auto recycling industry remains safe, effective, and aligned with modern technological realities.  

From the earliest days of hybrid vehicle adoption, the organization recognized that high-voltage systems would introduce new challenges that traditional dismantling practices were not equipped to handle. This foresight led to the development of one of the industry’s first comprehensive guides focused specifically on high-voltage vehicle safety and dismantling procedures. 

The original training materials developed by ARA were built around early hybrid models, which at the time represented the cutting edge of automotive electrification. These vehicles introduced entirely new concepts to many in the recycling sector: high-voltage battery packs, electric drive motors, and complex power electronics. While those early hybrids were relatively simple compared to today’s vehicles, they marked a turning point. They required technicians to rethink how they approached vehicle systems—especially when it came to electrical hazards, stored energy, and safe deactivation procedures. 

As the automotive industry accelerated toward electrification, however, the limitations of those early training materials became increasingly clear. Modern electric vehicles are far more sophisticated than their predecessors. They operate at significantly higher voltages, utilize larger, more energy-dense battery packs, and incorporate advanced thermal management systems. In addition, integrated software now plays a major role in controlling safety mechanisms and system behavior, adding another layer of complexity for recyclers. 

Unlike traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, which are primarily mechanical, high-voltage vehicles are deeply rooted in electrical and electronic systems. This shift introduces a range of new risks, including electric shock, arc flash (essentially an electrical explosion), fire hazards, and chemical exposure from damaged battery components. These are not theoretical risks; they are real, and they require a new level of awareness and preparation. 

Vehicle design itself has also evolved in ways that directly impact dismantling. Many EV battery packs are mounted along the bottom of the vehicle, often forming part of the structural platform. This means that improper lifting—such as using forks or contact points in the wrong location—can damage the battery pack. That damage may not be immediately visible, but it can lead to delayed thermal events, including fires that occur hours or even days after the initial incident. For recyclers accustomed to lifting vehicles from traditional frame points, this represents a significant change in procedure and mindset. 

Recognizing these challenges, ARTI has taken proactive steps to revise its high-voltage vehicle training program. The goal is clear: to equip automotive recyclers with the knowledge and skills necessary to process high-voltage vehicles safely and efficiently, while also preparing them for future developments that will continue to reshape the industry. 

One of the most important advancements in this revised program is the transition from static written guides to a more dynamic, multimedia learning experience. Through ARA University, the organization has developed a training platform that delivers content in a virtual classroom environment. This approach allows learners to engage more deeply with the material, combining visual instruction with practical demonstrations. 

Visual learning is especially valuable when dealing with high-risk procedures. It reinforces critical safety concepts and helps ensure that technicians understand not only what to do but also how to do it correctly. In a field where mistakes can have serious consequences, this level of clarity is essential. 

Beyond technical procedures, the training also emphasizes situational awareness and decision-making. No two vehicles are exactly alike, and even within the same model, variations in condition, damage, or prior modifications can introduce new risks.  

Technicians are encouraged to assess each vehicle individually, identify potential hazards, and adapt their approach accordingly. This mindset—thinking before acting—is one of the most important safety tools available. 

A key strength of ARTI’s training initiative is its commitment to collaboration. By partnering with leading research institutions such as Argonne National Laboratory, ARTI has incorporated cutting-edge scientific knowledge into its materials. Argonne brings deep expertise in battery technology, energy systems, and advanced materials—areas that are directly relevant to the challenges recyclers face every day. 

This collaboration ensures that the training program is not just reactive, but forward-looking. As battery technologies continue to evolve—moving toward solid-state designs, new chemistries, and higher energy densities, the risks and handling requirements will also change. By integrating insights from Argonne, ARTI is helping to prepare recyclers for what’s next, not just what exists today. 

The pace of technological change in the automotive sector is unprecedented, and no single organization can keep up on its own. Collaboration between industry groups, researchers, and recyclers themselves is essential for developing effective, standardized approaches.  

This shared effort helps reduce variability across the industry and improves overall safety outcomes. 

It also addresses an important, often-overlooked reality: high-voltage systems are no longer limited to fully electric vehicles. Many modern internal combustion vehicles—including trucks and SUVs—now incorporate hybrid systems or high voltage components that may not be immediately obvious. These “hidden” systems can catch recyclers off guard if proper identification procedures are not followed. Updated training ensures that workers know what to look for, even when high voltage presence is not clearly marked. 

Safety remains the central focus of the training program, and for good reason. High-voltage systems store significant amounts of energy, even when a vehicle is powered down. Improper handling can result in electric shock, arc flash, or thermal runaway events. Understanding how to properly isolate and manage that energy is critical to preventing injuries and incidents. 

At the same time, the training emphasizes that safety is not just about individual knowledge; it is also about communication and teamwork. Dismantling high-voltage vehicles often requires multiple people, each with a specific role. Clear communication ensures that everyone understands the vehicle’s status, the steps being taken, and any hazards identified. A strong safety culture encourages workers to speak up, ask questions, and stop work if something doesn’t seem right. 

Looking ahead, the continued evolution of vehicle technology will bring new challenges.  

Autonomous systems, advanced sensors, and increased connectivity will further complicate vehicle design and dismantling processes. These developments will require ongoing updates to training programs and continued collaboration across the industry. 

ARTI’s proactive approach reflects a clear understanding of these challenges. By continuously updating its training and working with partners at the forefront of research, the organization is helping to ensure that recyclers are not left behind as the industry evolves. This is not just about keeping up—it’s about leading the way. 

Another major factor driving the need for updated training is the changing landscape of vehicle production. Many automakers have already committed to transitioning toward fully electric lineups within the next decade. As a result, the number of high-voltage vehicles entering the end-of-life stream will continue to grow. 

For recyclers, this means that handling high-voltage systems will soon become a core part of daily operations rather than a specialized task. It also presents new opportunities. Electric drivetrains and battery systems contain valuable materials, including rare-earth elements used in motor magnets, such as neodymium, cobalt, and nickel. Recovering these materials not only provides economic value but also supports the broader supply chain for future technologies. 

By embracing these opportunities, the auto recycling industry can play a key role in the circular economy. Recovering and reusing materials reduces the need for new resource extraction, lowers environmental impact, and supports the sustainable growth of electric mobility. But none of this is possible without the knowledge and training needed to do the work safely. 

Ultimately, the project to revise high voltage vehicle training represents a vital investment in the future of auto recycling. It acknowledges the reality that high voltage systems are already present across a wide range of vehicles—often in ways that are not immediately visible—and provides the tools needed to address that reality. 

“I don’t recycle electric vehicles” is no longer a safe assumption. The better approach is to assume the opposite: that any vehicle could contain high voltage components, and to be prepared accordingly. 

Through updated training, innovative learning methods, and strong industry partnerships, ARTI is helping recyclers make that shift. In doing so, it not only improves safety but also positions the industry to thrive in a rapidly changing automotive landscape.   

Zach Schauls graduated from Iowa State University, with a degree in mechanical engineering and a specialty in electric vehicle systems and sustainability for recycling. This passion began from dismantling hybrid transmissions, gaining hands-on experience with electric drivetrains and component recovery and sparked his interest in end-of-life vehicle processing and materials reuse, specifically for electric vehicles. Zach also conducts environmental and safety audits to help organizations improve compliance and reduce operational risks. His technical expertise brings a practical perspective to scaling electric vehicle recycling and advancing efficient, sustainable solutions in the evolving automotive industry. 

By: Andy Latham

Well-designed bays avoid confined spaces, relying on effective ventilation or targeted extraction systems that disperse heat and fumes should a battery enter thermal distress.

As electric and hybrid vehicle volumes grow, forward-thinking recyclers are redesigning their facilities to safely and efficiently process high-voltage machines. Setting up a dedicated EV dismantling bay isn’t just good practice—it’s becoming essential. With the right layout, tools, and protocols, recyclers can protect staff, recover more value, and stay ahead of regulatory pressures. 

A Dedicated Space for High-Voltage Work 

The first rule of EV dismantling is simple: isolation. 

Leading facilities now designate a controlled, clearly marked area exclusively for electric vehicles. Access is restricted to trained staff—typically those with Level 3 or higher high-voltage competency. Bright, unmistakable signage alerts workers to the hazards, while floor markings guide safe movement and define the working envelope around the vehicle. 

This separation not only prevents accidental exposure to high-voltage components but also creates a professional environment that supports safe workflow. 

Modern EVs Introduce Unique Risks—Especially Their lithium-ion batteries 

Well-designed bays avoid confined spaces, relying on effective ventilation or targeted extraction systems that disperse heat and fumes should a battery enter thermal distress. The environment must also remain dry, uncluttered, and temperature-stable—conditions that reduce hazards while making technicians’ work easier and more consistent. 

A well-organized bay gives technicians room to work. Vehicles should be placed so all sides are accessible, with non-conductive flooring where practical. Clear access to the 12V system, service connectors, isolation points, HV Battery, and charge ports ensures technicians can quickly secure the vehicle before dismantling begins. 

Every EV dismantling bay needs its own toolkit: 1000V-rated insulated tools, electrical test equipment, class-appropriate PPE, and high-voltage gloves. Keeping these tools in a dedicated, locked cabinet prevents misuse and maintains a professional standard.  

Fire safety is being redefined in the age of EV recycling: Lithium-ion fire blankets sized for vehicles, traditional extinguishers, and readily accessible water supplies form the core of a modern safety setup. Many operators now supplement this with infrared cameras to spot battery hot spots early. A single emergency stop switch that kills power to the bay rounds out the critical safety infrastructure. Clear, visible emergency procedures remind staff what to do when seconds matter. 

EV Batteries Demand Their Own Secure Area, Once Removed  

This storage zone should be cool, ventilated, and physically separated. Undamaged batteries sit on insulated pallets or shelves, while suspect or compromised units are housed in fire-resistant containers. Temperature monitoring, appropriate spacing, and clear labeling help minimize risks and support simple, repeatable inspection routines. 

Top-tier recyclers rely on robust Standard Operating Procedures: They guide every step of the dismantling process—from initial identification through isolation, testing, removal, and storage. Laminated posters in the bay help ensure consistency and reduce the chance of shortcuts. These clear procedures also help new technicians learn faster and make operations easier to audit or certify. 

Modern dismantling bays are increasingly digital: Tablets or wall-mounted monitors provide quick access to OEM emergency response guides and high-voltage component diagrams. This reduces guesswork and ensures that technicians proceed based on accurate, manufacturer-approved information. 

The best EV bays maintain order: Dedicated benches for high-voltage components, shelves divided into “safe parts” and “quarantine,” and tool shadow boards help technicians work methodically. Some facilities incorporate barcode or RFID tracking to simplify part identification and inventory control. The result: smoother workflows, fewer errors, and a more professional operation. 

As regulations evolve, recyclers must stay ahead of requirements: These are for hazardous waste handling, fire protection, environmental management, and high-voltage safety. A properly designed EV bay makes compliance easier, improves insurer confidence, and protects long-term business viability. 

Setting up a dedicated EV dismantling bay requires investment, planning, and a clear understanding of modern risks. But the payoff is enormous: safer staff, smoother operations, fewer incidents, and a facility ready for the accelerating shift toward electric mobility. 

Salvage Wire can assist all vehicle dismantlers and recyclers in building their processes, equipping their shops, and training their staff. Recyclers who embrace these best practices aren’t just keeping up—they’re leading the charge. 

Andy Latham is Managing Director of Salvage Wire. His desire is to highlight the professionalism in the vehicle recycling industry, increase knowledge and understanding, and keep everyone safe, ethical and profitable. Book your complimentary one-hour consultation today at www.salvageinsight.co.uk.

There are four main risks to take account of:

• Chemical

• Electrical

• Fire

• Electromagnetic

All batteries are chemical devices that include an electrolyte, which can cause serious personal damage if it leaks from the battery, the battery module or battery cell. A lead acid (12v) battery will lose all of its electrolyte if damaged. The risk of this acid is well known by vehicle technicians as we have been working with these for well over 120 years.

High voltage batteries have an alkaline electrolyte that can be very harmful to a person’s health if the battery is damaged and electrolyte is leaking. It may only be a small amount of electrolyte as only the damaged cells will leak, but even in very small quantities the electrolyte can be very harmful.

The biggest risk is electric shock – this occurs when a person touches the vehicle and creates a circuit through their body. This could be between two points on the vehicle or between the vehicle and an earth point. The heart is very vulnerable to electric shock and only a small amount of voltage and current is needed to put the heart into ventricular fibrillation, which means that the heart is not pumping blood around the body. Almost all hybrid vehicles and every plug-in vehicle (hybrid or full EV) carry lethal amounts of voltage and current.

Fire can happen in any vehicle, it doesn’t matter what type of power source; the risk is that with high voltage vehicles the consequences could be much more severe. An arc flash is where the electricity jumps an air gap – this superheats the air and can seriously burn a technician if they are close to the arc flash. Equally it could ignite substances nearby (fuel vapor from depollution, for example), and explode.

Batteries do catch on fire (although far less than the press reports would have you believe) and they could burn for three to five hours. They need large volumes of high pressure water (over 10,000 liters or 2,500 gallons) that will require the fire services to establish a pump connection to a fire hydrant.

Also, electromagnetic fields in a high voltage system can impact heart pacemakers, so anyone that has one of these fitted should not work on one of these vehicles. These vehicles are perfectly safe to drive, plug in and operate if you have a pacemaker – just do not work on them when they are live.

How do you protect yourself from these electrical landmines? Easy – be trained, have the right HV tools, HV personal protective equipment and follow the manufacturer processes.

Training also is absolutely essential. Vehicle technicians need to use a training provider that is offering accredited and certificated training courses that include awareness of risks, how to work safely, and practical assessments. Without these, the technicians will not have the right awareness, knowledge of how to complete the work, and the confidence to complete high voltage operations.

HV tools range from insulated hand tools, through cat 3, 1000-volt multimeters or voltage detectors and vehicle scan kit.

HV personal protective equipment (PPE) includes class 0, 1000v rated electrician’s safety gloves, 1000v rated safety footwear or rubber mat, face or eye protection, full length overalls, safety rescue hook, and warning signs and barriers. The correct processes can be obtained from the vehicle manufacturer and other sources (see box).

If the technician has been trained, they have the tools, the PPE and they follow the process, then they will be able to avoid the electrical landmines and get home to their families at the end of each working day.

Salvage Wire has developed specific and accredited electric vehicle dismantling training that is available at four levels which equips every person at every recycler with the knowledge, understanding and confidence to work on these vehicles. For more details email training@salvagewire.com.

Resources Most are free-of-charge, some do carry a cost.

Training
• ARA University has online training. Find out more at arauniversity.org
• Salvage Wire complete accredited training at four levels, taking technicians through the process and keeping them safe. Find out more at www.salvagewire.com
• AC/DC does advanced training. Find out more at fixhybrid.com

Education
• The ARA Hybrid Vehicle Technology book is available as a free download from ARA University: arauniversity.org/electric-hybrid-vehicle-technology-guide/
• Electric and Hybrid Technology book: tomdenton.org

Disconnection and Dismantling Processes
• International Dismantling Information Service idis2.com
• Removal Manuals elvsolutions.org/?page_id=1717
• Rescue Sheets http://rescuesheet.info/seite_3.html
• Energy Security Agency https://energysecurityagency.com/erg
• NFPA https://www.nfpa.org/Education-and-Research/Emergency-Response/Emergency-Response-Guides
• EV Fire Safe https://www.evfiresafe.com

Phone and Tablet Apps
• Euro Rescue
• EV Rescue
• Pro-Assist Hybrid

Andy Latham is Managing Director of Salvage Wire. His desire is to highlight the professionalism in the vehicle recycling industry, increase knowledge and understanding, and keep everyone safe, ethical and profitable.

By Caryn Smith

New technologies and innovative products can keep any industry fresh. And the innovation and subsequent influx of electric vehicles (EVs) into the country’s transportation market – albeit slow – is no exception. Dozens of companies, including some of the automotive recycling industry’s most well-known entities, are paying close attention to the new technology and how this growing market will affect their enterprises. While automotive recyclers – both large and small – are continually enhancing and expanding their products, processes, and electric vehicle know-how, they are also aware that EVs may change the way they do business. In doing so, they are determining what type of EV infrastructure, products and processes they may need to incorporate into their business structure.

This year we are incorporating companies that have embraced EVs in a myriad of ways to give recyclers a resource as this new avenue within the auto recycling industry continues to emerge.

ARA members can use this roundup to familiarize themselves with both well-established and new companies that have entered the auto recycling fold. This guide is intended to be a “go to” source for products and services that meet the needs of evolving EV recycling segment of the industry.

American Battery Technology Company (ABTC), headquartered in Reno, Nevada, has pioneered first-of-kind technologies to unlock domestically manufactured and recycled battery metals critically needed to help meet the significant demand from the electric vehicle, stationary storage, and consumer electronics industries. Committed to a circular domestic supply chain for battery metals, ABTC works to continually innovate and master new battery metals technologies that power a transition to electrification and the future of sustainable energy.

ABTC has pioneered a closed-loop battery recycling process that separates and recovers critical materials from end-of-life batteries. The company’s commercial recycling facility located in the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center is designed to utilize our uniquely pioneered recycling process, which realizes greater net benefits than current conventional methods. These include reduction of waste, conservation of natural resources including water, decreased air pollution when compared to conventional methods associated with smelting, increased operational efficiencies, higher material recovery rates, and capture of battery grade materials with no degradation of quality compared to conventional virgin sourced materials.

The company accepts batteries in all form factors, including packs, modules, and cells, and many lithium-ion cathode chemistries, such as NCA, LCO, NA, and others. ABTC also can accept and process hazardous waste materials including damaged, defective, or recalled batteries. For more information, contact a member of the ABTC recycling sourcing team.

Contact: Doug Hamilton – Feedstock Sourcing Manager at email dhamilton@batterymetals.com

Cirba Solutions is the most comprehensive battery recycling materials’ processor, taking batteries at end-of-life, processing them to extract critical minerals, and supplying them back into the supply chain. With more than 30 years of experience and six operational facilities in North America, this solidifies them as the industry leader.

Processing is a core and proven capability of Cirba Solutions and the technologies leveraged by them provide flexibility and adaptability to meet the changing market needs. Cirba Solutions has a comprehensive collective network where they partner with businesses, municipalities, battery products, and automotive OEMs such as Toyota, to gather end-of-life batteries from EVs, production scrap, consumer electronics, and other energy storage systems. Collected materials undergo rigorous sorting based on type, chemistry, and condition.

Cirba Solutions utilizes hydrometallurgy processing, removing the need for high temperatures and producing fewer emissions compared to conventional solutions. This state-of-the-art, proven hydrometallurgical processing, facilitates the purification of recovered materials to pure metals for incorporation back into the supply chain. They also prioritize responsible management of the by-products and residual waste materials created.

To increase battery recycling efficiency and reduce environmental impact, Cirba Solutions actively collaborates with battery manufacturers and all major OEMs to establish closed-loop recycling systems. Owning the process from pick-up, to processing, to reintegration allows manufacturers to reuse critical minerals from batteries. Key processing locations are strategically located within the U.S. battery belt near gigafactories and major battery manufacturing producers. Through domestic sourcing, Cirba Solutions can reduce up to 48,000 miles in logistical costs, enhancing the economic vitality of recycling operations.

Due to Cirba Solutions’ continuous research and development, they optimize their resource recovery process to maximize the yield of valuable metals from recycled batteries.

Cirba Solutions is a trusted and complete service provider in the sustainable battery materials industry, and has an unwavering commitment to innovation, sustainability, and environmental stewardship, which is exemplified through its excellence in battery recycling.

Contact: Danielle Spalding at email dspalding@cirbasolutions.com or via phone, 740-653-6290.

In 2023, the U.S. reached a significant milestone with more than one million EV sales, marking about 8% of all new vehicle sales and representing a nearly 50 percent increase from 2022. This surge in electric vehicle adoption, boosted by historic federal policies and incentives, led to over $150 billion in private investment, ramping up battery production capabilities in North America. Industry forecasts remain strong, with expectations of over 10% annual growth through 2030.

At the same time, the first wave of EVs retiring from roads is meeting an evolving policy landscape and heightened battery management demands. In 2024, forecasts predict 250,000 electrified vehicles will reach end-of-life. Equipping automotive dismantlers to efficiently navigate this landscape and prepare for fleet changes is crucial to ensure sustainability, preserve industry jobs, and avoid unnecessary costs that could inhibit EV adoption.

Founded by Tesla’s co-founder and former CTO, JB Straubel, Redwood Materials set out to transform the battery industry by recycling, refining, and remanufacturing battery materials for a sustainable and clean energy future. By closing the loop on the battery life cycles, Redwood is localizing a global battery supply chain and producing anode and cathode components in the U.S. for the first time – from as many recycled batteries as possible.

Last year, Redwood Materials launched an online portal designed for automotive dismantlers to value and sell recovered electric vehicle battery packs directly to Redwood – a process that ensures a frictionless, safe, and responsible approach to end-of-life battery management. With just a couple of clicks, dismantlers can receive an instant offer for their EV battery packs, eliminating uncertainty and ensuring a clear valuation upfront. After accepting a sale, Redwood oversees the transportation and logistics, integrating advanced tracking and management systems. This approach ensures each battery is appropriately valued and prepared for responsible recycling.

By equipping dismantlers across the U.S. with this tool, Redwood is actively enhancing the sustainability of our battery supply chain and integrating end-of-life EV battery management into everyday practice. Redwood is committed to making EV battery recycling easier, safer, and more transparent for automotive dismantlers nationwide.

For more information, contact the Redwood team at evbattery@redwoodmaterials.com.

ReJoule is an advanced battery diagnostic company with the mission of creating a circular economy by enabling reuse, remanufacturing, and repurposing of battery electric vehicles (BEVs). ReJoule has pioneered an advanced battery testing technique to accurately, quickly, and reliably determine a battery’s state of health. ReJoule’s cutting-edge technology can test batteries at any point in its lifecycle. It can plug into the DC fast-charging port of a BEV to provide rapid and accurate testing of traction batteries that are inside vehicles or after batteries have been removed from vehicles at the pack, module, or cell level. It has been validated by customers on multiple continents.

There is an existing, and highly successful, automotive recycling and dismantling infrastructure. The ability to easily and reliably test BEVs and batteries through a technology such as ReJoule’s is essential to supporting a thriving used BEV market. Application of ReJoule’s diagnostics technology provides valuable insights to accurately define BEV residual values and ensure highest and best use (e.g., reuse, repair, recondition, repurpose, etc).

ReJoule’s diagnostic technology employs electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to estimate the degradation of a battery through its complex impedance. This enables a test time reduction from hours to less than five minutes. ReJoule’s hardware product is coupled with machine learning algorithms to correlate a battery’s complex impedance to its state of health achieving 98% accuracy. See a one minute virtual demo on our website: rejouleenergy.com/our-technology.

To learn more about ReJoule and actively engage in the battery circular economy, please contact Dave Mauer, Director of Business Development at ReJoule at dmauer@rejouleenergy.com or via phone, 312-351-5180.

The projected number of electric vehicles (EV) on the road might not turn out to be as high as previously expected, but battery-powered cars and trucks are here to stay. Everyone in the automotive recycling, salvage, and parts industry need to prepare to face the challenge of dealing with lithium-ion EV batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles (EVs) can be dangerous because they contain a huge amount of energy – enough to propel some vehicles from zero to 60 MPH in under two seconds. They are very difficult to fully discharge. Even when you might think that the battery you have in your yard is “dead,” there’s a good chance it still contains trace amounts of energy.

These batteries can overheat and short-circuit the battery cell. When a lithium-ion battery cell short-circuits, the flammable electrolyte inside can combust and cause a rapid increase in pressure. This could lead to a chain reaction called thermal runaway.

Thermal runaway is a chain reaction that occurs when a lithium-ion battery overheats. The battery itself enters an uncontrollable state of self-heating – it overheats itself over and over, getting hotter each time. The cell itself generates exponentially more heat than the battery can get rid of causing the battery to overheat until the battery emits a dangerous gas or smoke and ultimately catches fire. Unlike with a small lithium-ion cell phone battery, you can’t throw a 1500+ pound lithium-ion EV battery into the toilet to quickly cool the battery down.

How do you protect your staff and facilities and stay safe? Preparation is key – keep the batteries in a cool, dry, low traffic space away from combustibles. Make sure to have the proper fire protection in place. Train your staff to be aware of the dangers of Lithium-ion batteries, how to handle them properly, and what to do in an emergency. And if the budget allows, invest in a FLIR gun thermometer or thermal camera to detect temperature increases before the rupture and fires occur.

The Interco Critical Mineral Recovery™ facility is one of the largest lithium-ion battery recycling plants in the world – www.criticalmineralrecovery.com. Lithium-ion batteries from across the Americas and as far as Europe are delivered to the CMR facility daily.

The plant has a total capacity of 5-6,000 tons per month with the ability to discharge and disassemble 200 EV packs, 1,350 modules, and another 60 tons of consumer electronics batteries each day. The facility converts batteries into a mixed metal concentrate (black mass) with the highest recovery rates and lowest contamination levels (Al, Cu, & H2O) found in North America. This quality allows us to sell to hydrometallurgical refineries at premiums and pass value along to Interco suppliers.

Contact: Bob Shallenberger at bobs@intercotradingco.com or via phone, 618-501-0232.

Are you a car dealer, recycler, fleet manager or energy storage company with spent Lithium-ion batteries on your hands? Lithion’s recycling program is your solution!

From collection to processing, Lithion’s recycling program is a reliable turnkey solution. Lithion offers a safe, all-in-one solution for recovering and recycling Lithium-ion batteries from electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars. The best part: you could be compensated for those batteries.

Submit your pickup and recycling request in just a few clicks via our dedicated online portal and quickly receive a quote. Our team of qualified EV batteries logistic professionals will then ensure the safe handling and transportation of your batteries across Canada and the Northeastern United States.

Lithion’s recycling operations realize battery material circularity. Lithion Saint-Bruno, the first critical mineral extraction facility of Lithion Technologies, is now in operation near Montreal, Canada. Ready to serve both Canadian and Northeastern U.S. markets, this plant is Lithion Technologies’ first major step towards establishing the circularity of EV battery materials.

At full capacity, this plant will annually process over 20,000 tons of Lithium-ion batteries and non-conforming materials from cell and battery manufacturing, to produce black mass. This capacity, equivalent to recycling 45,000 cars, will significantly reduce the environmental impact of electrification while strengthening the efforts of its strategic partners in promoting local and sustainable battery materials.

Submit a recycling request for one or more batteries at batteries.lithiontechnologies.com and receive a quote!

Pioneers in the development of fully circular lithium-ion battery materials, Lithion’s mechanical extraction and hydrometallurgy technologies enable the recovery of up to 95% of battery components, with a drastically smaller environmental footprint than mining. Our complete solution makes the energy transition truly sustainable by keeping these minerals in the battery supply chain.

To find out more, visit www.lithiontechnologies.com. Lead-acid batteries from internal combustion engines, and nickel-cadmium batteries are not accepted in our recycling program.

Contact: Marie Line Paquet at ml.paquet@lithiontechnologies.com or via phone, 514-353-4008 x264.

I recently visited two businesses in the same week, both collision repair centers, and that is where the similarities ended. One business is a success story, the other was just getting by.

The successful business moved into their current site 11 years ago with a plan to pay off the site in 10 years – they paid it off in five; the other business had been in their site for over 20 years and still didn’t own it.

The difference between them was attitude and mentality. One business was welcoming and looked professional, the other was the exact opposite.

In both cases, I was delivering the same high voltage training refresher. The first business looked on it as an opportunity to further develop their team and the second business felt that this training was something that they had to complete to maintain accredited status for insurance company work.

One business has a success mentality, the other has a victim mentality.

The successful business is led by an influential, passionate, and forward-thinking leadership team – they want to give the best impression to their customers, do the best job possible, value and develop their team whenever possible, knowing that a team that is valued will stay together.

They do not have any insurance repair contracts, all their work comes from recommendations and vehicle manufacturer approvals, and if an insurance company approaches them for work, they have to pay their retail rate and cannot dictate rates and terms. They are structural aluminum approved, one of a very small number in the area, and do significant repairs on aluminum-bodied vehicles – while I was there, they were fitting a large body section to an aluminum vehicle with great skill, quality, and expertise.

The candidates undertaking the refresher training were willing and ready to learn, happy to demonstrate their knowledge and experience, and also show evidence of previous work completed along with all the specialist tools that they had available from their manufacturer approval.

In complete contrast, the second company was very negative about the training. Questions were asked like “How long will this take?”, “Why do I need this training?”, and “How much is this going to cost?” were very prominent in our discussions prior to the course. On the day, there were moans about the way insurance companies dictate terms, charges, discounts, and repair methods and that they do not have the money to pay for training.

What became very evident early on in the training was that they didn’t value or invest in their staff. As a training refresher, this is not the first time the company has completed high voltage training and they should have the appropriate high voltage tools and personal protective equipment available – all they had were one incorrectly rated pair of high voltage gloves! Is there anything more demotivating to staff than their employer paying for their training to achieve an accreditation, and then not doing their duty by investing in the proper tools and personal protective equipment to keep them safe? We often hear the statement “all the gear and no idea,” in this case, they had all the idea and no gear!

These two operations showed something that can affect us all – do we have a passion for what we do, or have we lost that passion and let it become something that we need to do?

If you are in the former group then great, surround yourself with people who have the same passion and drive, the same impetus to constantly improve, grow and succeed, to value and invest in your team and yourself. If this isn’t you there are a couple of options:

1. Get out of the business. If it is that bad then take the most drastic option, what you are doing right now is no good for you, your family or your team; you are dragging them down to your level and depressing their potential and it may be that you are better off out of the way.
2. Change your mindset. Stop being a victim and start loving on your team, change the thinking in the company, look for opportunities to advance the organization and improve the situation, invest in their education, the environment they work in, and how you treat your customers and work providers. This will not change overnight, it will require investment – investment in financial terms but also in time and effort, and if done correctly, you should see a change in mindset away from a victim mentality.

One company I have worked with over many years decided that they needed to change how they operated and enhance their profit margins, so we looked at a couple of their insurance contracts and decided to “retire” them all. This meant they lost a lot of work for a few months and they suffered losses because they refused to lay off any staff, but one-by-one these companies came back and asked them to do their work. The difference now was that the work was at their rates, not the rates dictated to them by their work providers. The result over a 12-month period was a reduction in work volumes, much happier (and better paid) staff, money to invest in training, business improvements and equipment, improved work quality, and more profit. But the most important part of it all was they lost their victim mentality where everything was a problem and they started acting as winners across the business.

Are you a success or a victim? The choice is yours. Salvage Insight can assist you to work this out so contact us for more details and a free one-hour discussion. Visit www.salvageinsight.co.uk.

Andy Latham is Managing Director of Salvage Wire. His desire is to highlight the professionalism in the vehicle recycling industry, increase knowledge and understanding, and keep everyone safe, ethical and profitable.